Gem, Kansas

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Gem is a city in Thomas County, Kansas, United States. The population was 96 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 The Cemetery
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Gem is located at 39°25′33″N, 100°53′47″W (39.425730, -100.896294).^GR1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 96 people, 39 households, and 24 families residing in the city. The population density was 112.3/km² (294.9/mi²). There were 47 housing units at an average density of 55.0/km² (144.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.96% White, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04% of the population.

There were 39 households out of which 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.2% under the age of 18, 13.5% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 128.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 134.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,500, and the median income for a family was $45,417. Males had a median income of $26,875 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,805. There were no families and 8.1% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

[edit] The Cemetery

The Gem Cemetery deserves a heading in itself, as it is the first thing one will see upon approaching Gem from the South. In the middle of the property, there is a gothic iron fence enclosing the ellaborate headstones of all of the Houston family. The Houstons were made rich in Gem's glory days, but their exquisite two-story house has since been removed from Gem and converted into a hotel. The number of graves in Gem decrease every year as people flock to live in nearby Colby, Kansas.